Maltese Exchange Programme

The Maltese Exchange programme has been developed to facilitate Foundation doctors from the Severn Foundation School and the Maltese Foundation School undertaking their first year of training in an alternative environment. The Severn and Maltese Foundation Schools are both recognised for Foundation training by the UKFPO.

The F1 year in each school is equivalent to the other and applicants from Malta and the UK can apply to complete their training in either location. In the UK, trainees are awarded full registration by the GMC at the end of a successful FY1 while in Malta, full registration with the Medical Council Malta is only awarded after trainees have successfully completed a full two-year programme.

Should the trainee on the exchange fail to complete the requirements for successful completion of F1 in Malta, he/she will need to return to the UK to repeat the F1 year.

If a trainee is interested in applying for the Maltese Exchange Programme, they will need to rank the three Malta posts as their top choices to be able to be considered. Please note, even if they rank them high enough, the exchange programme is not guaranteed; there must be a Maltese trainee interested in swapping for her/him to be able to go to Malta – applicants are strongly advised that they must not make any commitments until the exchange programme is confirmed.

The Malta FY1 starts at the beginning of July which is slightly earlier than the UK start date. If a trainee has not graduated by the time the F1 year starts in Malta, this may affect their place in the programme. The trainees will need to return to the UK to commence their FY2 once the period of exchange has expired.

Eligibility

To be eligible to undertake the F1 exchange with Malta, you must meet the following criteria:

Be on a 5 year medical degree course

Have EU citizenship or the right to work in Europe without Visa restrictions

Able to fund your own travel to and from the UK. All accommodation arrangements will need to be made by the individual.

A Medical Practitioner who is interested in applying for the next intake of the Malta Foundation Programme is encouraged to submit an 'Application for a Letter of Intent to be presented to the Foundation School Malta' (download) with the Maltese Medical Council, as early as possible, by email at medicalcouncil@gov.mt. Please note that this is not an Application for Provisional Registration with the Medical Council, and that incomplete forms will not be considered.

To learn more about the Malta Foundation Programme, please click here.